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HOW MUCH FORMULA DOES YOUR BABY NEED?

By Jill Tomlin

Spending time feeding your baby is one of the most pleasurable and important things you can do. And while you're at it, you want to make sure your baby is getting all of the nutrition she needs. Here are a few guidelines that can help you tell if baby is getting enough to eat:

Is your baby gaining weight? If the answer is yes, then that's a pretty good sign baby is getting enough formula. If the answer is no, you should talk to your baby's doctor and discuss what steps you need to take.
Check out baby's diapers If baby is getting enough formula, she should be wetting a diaper almost hourly until she's 3 months of age. And she should be having at least three bowel movements each day by the time she's 2 weeks old. The number of bowel movements will gradually taper off as baby grows older and starts on solid foods.
Keep track of baby's formula The quantity of formula a baby needs depends on the child's weight, growth rate, and metabolism, but most newborns will drink two to three fluid ounces per day for every pound of body weight. For example a 10-pound baby, will drink about 20 ounces of formula each day.

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